Smash.

[CaptainCanada]

and I already know that he will start whining that she's never home as soon as rehearsals start and she will cry because she fears her dream of being a Broadway star will ruin her relation ship.

Actually, I think that's more likely to be Julia's home life. Karen's Mr. Perfect boyfriend seems more likely to be the guy she's going to have to continue to resist cheating on.

 

[Takeru]

I'd agree if Karen's boyfriend wasn't part of the main cast and Julia's husband recurring, the writers probably want to use the boyfriend more and right now he's such a perfect Mary Sue that they have to do something about that, he can't just sit at home and be awesome.
Another thing is that Julia's husband didn't seem happy about it but he's been married to her for a long time, they both should have learned to deal with the problem by now. His main problem seemed to be the adoption stuff, that's why he wanted her to take time off but that problem pretty much evaporated when the adoption lady started gushing about Julia's work and how awesome she is and that she understands that Julia has a lot to do.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I like it! But I'm female. Opening with Over the Rainbow like that said THIS IS NOT FOR STRAIGHT GUYS in neon letters as big as the Hollywood sign.

The songs and dancing are surprisingly good - this could be a Broadway musical for real. And that's the hard part, making a TV show plus also sorta making a musical at the same time. That's like a show and a half. I'm impressed anyone would tackle the challenge.

The funny thing is, the weak part was the easy part: the personal drama of the characters. I got bored every time they switched over to adoption angst or whatever. But that seems to be a small portion of the whole.

It's good that both female leads are likable. I thought they were going to make Katherine McPhee The Good One and the other one would be The Bitch. I also like that each has one guy rooting for her, tho I think the gay guy has a better claim on having no ulterior motives. The rancor between the two guys should be fun. Maybe I should start learning everyone's names, since this is a keeper.

If they do this the traditional way, Blondie will end up getting the role with McPhee as the understudy and then there's some horrendous accident on opening night...hahahah, would they be that blatant?

Solid ratings for the debut.

It got off to a solid start with a 3.8/10 in 18-49 and 11.5 million viewers to rank as the third-highest-rated new drama series premiere this season...But there are some reasons for concern, related to the drop-off from The Voice lead-in and mostly to the 19% slide from Smash‘s first to second half-hour. Also, this is one of the most expensive first-year shows on the air, costing some $3.5 million an episode (its pilot was made for almost twice as much) and backed by the biggest promo campaign this season. (Outside sources peg it at a record $25 million, though NBC brass maintain that it stayed under $10 million). NBC won the night in 18-49 and total viewers.

Okay, there's some softness to those numbers but by NBC standards, that's a mega-smash!

 

[Takeru]

If they do this the traditional way, Blondie will end up getting the role with McPhee as the understudy and then there's some horrendous accident on opening night...hahahah, would they be that blatant?

I hope Ivy (i.e. Blondie) gets the part and Karen is her understudy, but no accident, Ivy should keep the part! As an understudy Karen would most likely have another role in the musical, not as part of the ensemble, a real character with a name, lines and solo singing parts. That's nothing to sneeze at and I hope the show shows it as such, not getting the lead is not the same as losing especially not for a newbie like Karen.

If they do it I bet it won't be an accident, I bet Ivy is pregnant (she barfed and women on tv only do that on screen if they're pregnant or bulimic), having a baby bump would mean she has to leave the show at some and it would be a nicer reason than being hit by a bus.

 

[Guy Gardener]

You all do remember the problem with the money?

They could have a super dramatic season finale where the production is shutdown and no one gets the lead.

They did something similar with Slings and Arrows one season, and wound up performing the play at a community centre/rural library in front of 20 people instead.

 

[sojourner]

If they do it I bet it won't be an accident, I bet Ivy is pregnant (she barfed and women on tv only do that on screen if they're pregnant or bulimic), having a baby bump would mean she has to leave the show at some and it would be a nicer reason than being hit by a bus.

Barfing seems to be a common trope for auditioning actors. I doubt she's pregnant.

 

[Guy Gardener]

She is so pregnant.

And she's in denial and then she's going to hide it, and then the producers are going to send her to Mexico for an extremely late abortion, but she chickens out and the other girl gets the job.

It's the 21st century, abortions hurt physically more than they do socially.

In the pilot of the LA Complex a couple weeks back (Jewel Staite for fricks sake!) it's like after-Fame with all these fresh faced kids are trying to make it in the business... One of them had unprotected sex the night before, she easily finds and uses the morning after pill, seconds later our hero gets a phone call from her agent about an audition she has to be ready for at the top of her game in just an hour.

long story short (TOO LATE!) just as every one is getting into her sound, (A musical?) and clapping along... she upchucks 8 buckets worth of yesterdays dinner suspended in bile all over the piano she's playing and the floor and to the say the producers were not impressed with the smell was an understatement.

The LA Complex,

A drama about 20somethigns trying to make it in Hollywood and failing.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I wasn't planning to check out Smash, but with the positive buzz, I think I'll at least watch the pilot.

The musical numbers are surprisingly good.

I really liked how they opened the show with McPhee's character singing under the spotlight on-stage, only to reveal that it was in her head and she was really in plain clothes in an audition room. I also liked the other musical number with Ivy where they cut back and forth between her audition and her singing on-stage. I'd say that was in her head too, but it almost looked prophetic. If they're going to present musical numbers to someone like me who doesn't much care for musicals, that's the way to do it. Use the magic of television to put out something with a creative twist.

As for the rest of the show, the whole thing does feel like a cut above the usual network fare. The drama and characters are pretty sharp, like something you'd find on Showtime or something, and as it turns out, development started there.

I won't call myself an instant fan, but I do like what I see enough to want to see where it goes. I thought they'd have 13 episode this season, but I'm reading that there will be 15.

 

[HaventGotALife]

Sweet Jesus, it was just like a movie.

Well, act one of course.

I truly had no idea how beautiful Debra Messing was that she could stand beside Katherine McPhee and not vanish.

Glee looks like a Loony Toon in comparison.

Anyone else watching?

I LOVED it! The singing performances were inspiring. The scenery was realistic. The acting was good. And I loved the cuts between the stage and the rehersals. I don't know if this show can last more than one season, and it looks like we don't know who Marilyn is for awhile, but I am hooked. I'm thinking about watching it on nbc.com again!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I wonder if the characters who aren't actors will be in musical numbers presented as "fantasy sequences," not literally part of the story. Because all of the characters are in a musical after all. And Christian Borle (Tom) has a Broadway background, so why cast a guy like that if you're not going to let him sing? Which raises the question of whether Deborah Messing, Jack Davenport and Angelica Houston could hold their own...

 

[Gil T.Azell]

It's not for me, while the show female leads are very attractive, would make the show worth the watch if there was no singing. Musical's just plain fucking suck.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

So nobody is following this show but me? I thought it was another good episode, but ratings are down 26%. But everything was down, rather weirdly...

However, it's starting from a rather lofty perch by NBC standards. Look where it sits in relation to the rest of NBC's lineup.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

Pre-Valentines fun, I'd say.

Second episode was just great. I think they've got a good balance going between the musical elements and the actual drama of the situation. It recalls a lot of the old "West Wing" sort of atmosphere and intensity that I miss (replacing hallways with the streets of New York, I guess), which I have since learned was one series the producers are trying to evoke. I'm watching this with my wife, who sings semi-professionally, so there's a lot she can empathize with too. Not as much for me (I'm improv theatre, not musical) but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Best of all I suppose, if Smash gets cancelled at least we'll have one full season with a conclusion written that we can live with.

Now, can anyone tell me if all New Yorkers ACTUALLY wear fancy scarves? Here in backwater Calgary we wear scarves for WARMTH first, even in the creative community!

Mark

 

[Guy Gardener]

Sublime.

I'd say that this episode is down because it's key audience was being treated right for one day a year, finally.

The Streets of New York "today" are surreal, I don't quite believe in them because to me the streets of New York are the original Fame movie from before Rudy put the bastard through a rinse cycle.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Anyone surprised Ivy got the part? I figure they're following the traditional script, with Karen as the understudy. Then Ivy falls off the stage (or gets pushed) right before opening night...

 

[Guy Gardener]

Why was she vomiting in the pilot?

Her relationship with Jack Davenport could explode?

If the producer, Morticia, figured out he was sleeping with the star, would she care or would she have to remove one of the two of them?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I'd say the vomiting was nerves, not foreshadowing.

Maybe Derek will get offered Twilight: The Musical that they were discussing in the restaurant? Then Morticia doesn't need to choose between them.

Also, anyone else think the scene with the teenager who cared deeply about adopting a baby sister was as false as a twelve dollar bill? What teenage boy gives a flip about that? Maybe when he was eight, he was bitter about having no siblings to push around, but by eighteen, I'd think he'd have moved on.

 

[Guy Gardener]

That was weird, but some "boys" learn how to be men early, but most never do.

Horror story?

Maybe Grace has had a lot of miscarriages?

"I'm pregnant, you're going to have a brother! ...Oh bother. He's dead. No wait, this time I'm sure I'll make it to term! Dead again. I'm really sorry, but your brothers and sisters keep dying inside me, I don't want to traumatize you any more son, so I'm not going to tell you about my next ten miscarriages, but just assume if you ever see me crying, that's what's going on."

This is not conversation to have with a 9 year old boy and expect no scars.

A callous description of a string of tragedies which happens often to many undeserving people.

But something similar to that would put some heavy conditions on a families definition of happiness, and it would explain why they had to go to China for a baby.

Cameron and Mitchell form Modern Family were talking about a second baby from China, and they didn't think it was too much of a fuss.

 

[sojourner]

Calling it now. Ivy will play Marilyn. Karen will be called back to play Norma Jean when it's realized Ivy can't pull off innocent.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I saw that in a biopic about Marilyn once.

they changed actresses after the nosejob.

I'm still fussed over the vomiting.

What if Ivy has a health defling eating disorder?